Homemade Tomato Sauce
A simple and delicious sauce made from frozen tomatoes, perfect for pasta, pizza, and more.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 3 pounds frozen tomatoes (defrosted) Defrosted tomatoes should have skins removed.
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil or butter (or 50/50)
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped garlic Adjust amount to taste.
- ½ cup whole or hand-torn fresh basil Lightly packed, or use 1 Tbsp dried basil.
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 tsp salt Adjust to taste.
- ½ tsp black pepper Adjust to taste.
- ½ tsp dried oregano
Instructions
Preparation
- Gather and prep all ingredients as mentioned above.
- Defrost the frozen tomatoes. Once defrosted, remove and discard skins and cores.
- Hand crush the tomatoes, keeping the tomato water for flavor.
Cooking
- In a heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil or butter over medium-low heat.
- Add the chopped garlic, basil, and crushed red pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes until the garlic softens.
- Move the garlic mixture to one side of the pot and add the tomato paste. Let it caramelize for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the crushed tomatoes with their liquid, salt, black pepper, and dried oregano. Stir to combine.
- Increase the heat to medium and bring the mixture to a light simmer. Simmer uncovered for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens.
- Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Enjoy your sauce!
Notes
Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze in portions for later. Customize with different herbs or veggies to enhance flavor.